Edgar h



E. H. WEIL.

TRAY.

APPucATxoN FILED MAY19.1919.

1,319,195. Patented om.. 21,1919.

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EDGAR ii. wEiL, yor CLEvELAiv-ii, gi-iio, Assieivon To TiiEvirREosENAMELING COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, omo, A CORPCEATICNCF o Hr'o.

TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteaoct. 21, 1919.

Application filed May 19, 1919. Serial No. 298,311.

whereby treatment of chemicalsandmate-V rials may be effectedeconomically'and uniformly. i

Another object of the invention `is 'to provide a metallic tray having aperforated enameled bottom whereby the 'chemicals and materials areeconomically and uniformly treated and at the same time prevented fromcontacting with the metal of the tray.

Another objectY of the invention is -to pro- 4vide a metallic dryingtray having a bottom formed with a plurality of openings y the walls ofwhich extend downwardly' below the plane lof the bottom to preventcontact of the material on the tray with the peripheral edges of theopening A 'further object o'f the invention yis to provide an enameleddrying tray formed with a plurality of openings whose wallsVV extenddownwardly below the plane of the tray toposition the free peripheraledge of such openings out of contact with the m-aterials placed on thetray.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description taken.in connection with the accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustration, I have, in the accompanyingdrawingshown and herein described one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a tray, embodying my invention, aportion of tray being broken away.

Fig. 2, is a section of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is the elevation of one end of the tray looking in the directionof the arrows 3 3.

Fig. 4, is a fragmentary view enlarged takeny on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view of a slightly modified tray having alarger number of openings than-the tray shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a tray having abottom la.The tray maybe and preferably is provided with one or more side wallslbthe vupper-edges of which may be rolled'over to -strengthen the sidewalls andl thek tray as an'entirety. and avoid the formationrof roughedges. For sake of economy'and convenience, the bottom V1aL andsidewalls 1b are formed from a single metallic'sheet of suitable shapeand thickness, whichv is bent-1in any well known manner to .form the`sidel walls and rolled edges. The tray may be of'anydesired size andshape. f f

' 2 indicates'a plurality ofopenings formed in thebottom la.The-openings 2f'may be of Vany desired shape and size, andthere may be alarger or smaller num-ber of open-5 ings 2, depending uponthercharacterr andnature of the materials tobesupported on the trayfor'drying ortreatrrrent. Further-` more, theV openings 2 maybe arrangedin" any order desired," they are preferably'unithe opposite edges yorlside walls 1b" in order that luniform drying, or` treatment maybeeffected in the lmost 'eficie'ntmannen metal constituting the walls ofeach opening 2 is lbent downwardlyand inwardly ortoward the center ofopening,fa's shown at 2a, so as to dispose the free peripheral edge 2bof the opening below the plane of the bottom 11.'v f

3 indicates a suitable coating for the upper surfacesof'the bottom 1aand walls 2a of the openings 2. The coating 3 is formed of a .chemicalresisting vmaterial, preferably vitreous enamel. The purpose of theenamel coat is to prevent contact of the chemical materials with the'metal constituting the walls of the tray and particularly the traybottom on which the material is placed.

While it is only necessary, in carrying out my invention, to enamel theupper surface of The y the tray bottom, it is quite advantageous for'iio trated a tray which has been enameled in this way. As shown, thecoat 3 covers all surfaces of the bottom la, walls 2a and side walls 1b.The coat 3 therefore not'only prevents contact of the chemical materialswith the metal from which the tray is formed, Y

but also lprotects such metal from the heat and other elements used foror in connection with the treatment or drying of the materials on thetray.

The'tray embodying my invention is particularly adapted for use indrying apparatuses of the character in which the trays are removablysupported in superposed series, one above the other and spaced from eachother to permit the circulation of the drying medium above and beloweach tray. As all surfaces of the .tray are enameled, it is well adaptedfor various types of drying apparatus including those in which moistureor vapor is used to facilitate drying.

Heretofore, it has not been possible to use metal Y trays andparticularly metal trays having perforated bottoms because the metal oringredients therein would affect the chemical 'materials in variousways, chemically and otherwise, depending upon the nature and characterof the materials being treated. I have discovered that metal trays canbe advantageously used by enameling, with vitreous enamel, the surfaceof the tray bottoms and hence prevent contact of the chemicals with themetal of which the tray bottoms are constructed.

It is well known, in enameling metal plates and metallic articles, thatexposed free edges ofthe metal cannot, practically or commercially, beenameled completely so as to entirely'and permanently cover such edges.Accordingly, in carrying out my invention, I countersink the openings 2in the tray bottom; that is, I bend or curve the metal constituting thewalls of each opening downwardly and inwardly, as shown vat 2", so thatthe free edge or peripheral edge of the metal, which may be more or lessexposed, is entirely below the plane ofthe tray bottom and therefore isout of contact with the materials being treated on the tray.

An enameled metallic tray embodying my invention has several importantadvantages,

among which may be mentioned, to--\vit, cheapness of construction,durability, elimination of repairs and rusting, and fire-resistingcharacteristics. In connection with this last-mentioned advantage,attention may be Called to the fact that many chemical plants inoperation today are equipped with apparatus all of which are made offire-proof niaterials except the drying trays; by using my invention insuch plants, all equipment therein can be made entirely fire-proof.

In carrying out my` invention I use a tray provided with metallicperforated bottom which enables me to secure in an economical andeilicient manner treatment of the materials, particularly where heat orheat and moisture is or are used for drying purposes. By providing thebottom with suitable sized openings, equally spaced from each other, thetreatment is effected uniformly and quickly. From the foregoingdescription it will be seen that by enameling the tray bottom andcountersinking the perforations thereof, I am enabled to produce a verycheap, but durable tray of fire-proof material and at the same timeadequately prevent contact of the material with the metal constitutingthe wall or Walls of the tray. To those skilled in the art of makingparatus of the class described, many alterations in construction andwidely differing embodiments and applications of my invention kwillsuggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.My disclosures and description herein are purely illustrative and larenot intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

An articleof manufacture comprising a metallic trayhavingy an enameledbottom on which chemicals fand4 other materials are adapted to bedisposed', said bottom being formed with a vplurality of relativelysmall openings the walls of which are bent downwardly to dispose thefree or exposed edge of the metal below the plane of said bottom.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

EDGAR IVEIL.

lVitness GEORGE H. Hays.

copies of thil'upatetvmay be obtained for ve cents each, by'addressingthe Commissioner of :Patentsv 'Washingtom D. C.

